Multiple individuals receiving the same command must respond in order of rank or status, with the highest-ranked speaking first. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, this effectively serves as a direct appointment for the highest-ranking individual.
Apparently, this is standard protocol for noble affairs—something only I was unaware of. Seeing my bewilderment, Karen and mother hastily exchanged guilty glances, while the others merely chuckled at my ignorance.
As for Princess Yunia, that look she gave me earlier? It was apparently her way of saying, “Your name will be mentioned, but it’s just protocol, so please bear with it”.
「…This is embarrassing.」
「Hmm, I’m sorry. I should have explained it beforehand… but it was so obvious I didn’t even think about it.」
Karen gently patted my head as I buried my face in my hands in shame. Please stop? That only makes it worse.
「At least your reaction didn’t get recorded in the minutes.」
「Right… If everything I said was transcribed and made publicly accessible… That would have been a disaster.」
I really hope things like “Huh?” and “Eh?” didn’t make it into the official records.
For the record, Noah’s response effectively marked the conclusion of the formal meeting. The knights and attendants had already set down their quills and stepped away from the writing desks. Which meant I was now free to humiliate myself—er, speak freely.
「But seriously, Noah, are you sure about this? Taking on the role of lord?」
「My aniue and aneue had already spoken to me about it privately. Given the circumstances, it’s clear that me accepting the position is the best course of action.」
「It’s a relief for the guild as well. We don’t need some opportunist from the capital barging in and claiming authority. Keeping it in the family is the safest option.」
「I’ll handle external negotiations, but I won’t be interfering in administrative matters, Cliche-dono. I expect things to continue as they have been.」
Cliche-san let out a small breath of relief and exchanged a glance with Noah. It seemed he had suspected this outcome rather than being informed beforehand. The guildmaster of Sidera was quite sharp.
At that moment, Eidel-san, who had been sipping his tea, let out a slight chuckle and spoke.
「This was precisely what the royal family wished to avoid—outsiders with no real understanding of Sidera swooping in to exploit its resources. That would have been unacceptable. In that sense, the circumstances played entirely in our favor. The fact that Noah and the others were already based here, that Sui-dono would inherit the viscountcy… and, though I hesitate to say it so bluntly, even the anomaly detected by the monitoring devices in the Void Forest during our stay—these were all fortunate coincidences for us.」
His words didn’t quite click with me.
Instead of furrowing my brows and tilting my head in confusion, I reached down to pet Chocola at my feet.
「Gahff, gahff…」
「Still too preoccupied with the milk.」
He had buried his snout in the bowl of milk that had been brought out after the meeting, lapping at it with single-minded focus. Well, I hadn’t expected him to answer me anyway.
「Is it good?」
「Bark!」
As I ruffled his fur, I turned back to Eidel-san and asked,
「What do you mean by ‘worked in our favor’?」
「It’s not all that complicated.」
It was Noah who answered me.
「First of all, you understand why it would be a problem if a noble from the royal capital were to become the lord here, right?」
「Of course.」
Not just me—anyone living in this city would make a disgusted face at the thought.
Someone completely unfamiliar with Sidera’s way of life or the nature of the Void Forest would suddenly arrive, issue orders, create arbitrary laws, and even siphon away the city’s profits.
That would be an absolute nightmare. And to make matters worse, four different noble houses had expressed interest in taking control.
「For those of us who live here, it’s beyond ridiculous. But even so, if they came forward with all the proper procedures and an indisputable management plan, the royal family wouldn’t be able to reject them outright.」
「…And on top of that, leaving things as they are is no longer an option. The profits generated by Sidera have simply grown too large.」
Princess Yunia added with a troubled—no, more like exasperated—expression.
「I see… So the royal family needed to present a proposal and justification that those nobles would have no choice but to accept.」
「That’s right. You catch on quickly.」
「Noah, as the Third Prince, holds a ducal title. His rank is more than sufficient, and more importantly, he already has an estate here. As an adventurer, he understands the situation on the ground, has the ability to handle crises, and, above all, can take responsibility for anything that happens in the Void Forest. With all those conditions in place, there’s no way any outsider could compete with him in terms of suitability.」
Even if another noble house were to argue that they had more experience with livestock farming or a secret strategy for mass-producing consomme, none of that would matter in the face of someone who had already produced proven results.
「And… I get why me inheriting the viscountcy also works as an advantage. My official registration is in Sidera, right? It wouldn’t do to have someone like me floating around without a clear position. Not to mention Grandma Seralinde and mother as well.」
My Grandma was a key figure in the kingdom, and mother—the legendary 「Deer Slayer」 whom even the King himself had to bow to. And then there was me, set to inherit the Hatano Viscountcy—the very title that once belonged to Kazuteru Hatano, the man infamous for his past blunders.
「Well, mostly you. ‘A clear position’ doesn’t even begin to cover it—you’re a crucial figure in this city. Do you seriously not realize that?」
「I mean… I kind of do…」
Cliche-san curled his lips into a wry smile, and I shrugged in response.
If it were just Grandma and Mother, I might have been able to feign ignorance. The research bureau where Grandma worked was an independent organization, separate from any governing body, and Mother spent most of her time deep within the forest, rarely involving herself with the city.
But I was different.
Development of consomme, financial backing for its production, the spread of foods like sesame tofu and stollen—if I were to put it plainly, I was deeply entangled in Sidera’s economic interests. At this point, it would be impossible to manage the city without taking into account the presence of 「Sui Hatano, Viscount」.
「Cliche-san, are you sure you’ll be fine? Once I become a viscount, I might use my authority to take full advantage of the situation.」
「Oh, come on, you really think you can outmaneuver me? I’m the one carrying the livelihoods of this city’s roughest lot on my back. If our earnings get unfairly cut, I won’t be able to face the people risking their lives for this place. And you’d better be ready too, Noah. Even if you’re the lord now, I’m not going easy on you.」
And then, the final reason.
Just as Cliche-san said with pride—this city, Sidera, was the frontier’s front line.
Adventurers risked their lives venturing into the forest, fighting to claim its bounties.
The city’s industries supported them, strengthened them, and sent them back out once more.
A savage land pressed against the Void Forest—one of the most dangerous zones in the world.
A city that thrived despite the presence of formidable monsters and mutants, where people laughed as they lived their days without a care.
I hadn’t traveled the world.
But I was certain there weren’t many places as insane as this.
Now that the observation devices had detected abnormalities during the princess’s visit, the full extent of that insanity would finally be acknowledged.
A land where mutants lurked in swarms, where those very creatures could even evolve into a Demon King—what noble in their right mind would still want to govern such a place?
The emergence of the 『Teikou』 had been a coincidence, a culmination of unrelated factors. But fate did not choose its time or place.
It didn’t care whether a noble was here or not. The princess had proven that firsthand.
「…Incredible.」
I found myself murmuring under my breath.
Princess Yunia had claimed that this was all just an excuse to enjoy good food—but that was absurd.
This was politics. A move that had, without a doubt, safeguarded Sidera’s future.
Noah, for taking on the role of lord.
Cliche-san, for seamlessly accepting and adapting to the new order.
They deserved nothing less than admiration.
But precisely because of that—
I found myself thinking. Realizing.
Why had this been necessary?
Why had such a maneuver been required?
I straightened my posture.
Sat upright on the sofa.
And then, facing everyone before me, I bowed my head deeply.
「Princess Yunia, Eidel-san, Noah, Cliche-san… I’m sorry. This entire situation—is my fault, isn’t it?」
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